Monday, 13 February 2017

The Specials Market in primary care was just over £80.5 million for the 12 month
period Oct 15 - Sep 16. Although the market
continues to decline year-on-year, it is now stabilising following a period of
readjustment in the wake of the Specials Tariff in November 2011. During this time the mean cost per item has
reduced from £180 per item before the tariff in Nov 2011, to an average £116
for the same 12 month period to Sep 2016.

Whilst this represents value for money to the NHS, at
the same time the high standards of quality involved in Specials manufacture
have needed to be maintained. According
to the Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, APSM, members report
continued investment in infrastructure and quality processes to meet the
increasing regulatory demands required by the sector.

To reflect the increased complexity of
the market, last year
(2016), the Association of Pharmaceutical Specials Manufacturers, APSM, decided
to broaden its membership criteria to the wider supply chain, including
importers as well as virtual Specials manufacturing organisations who own the
rights to, and act as the first supplier of, a Specials medicine in the UK.

In the last 5 years
following the introduction of the Specials Tariff there has been significant developments
in regulatory framework and professional guidance around Specials and the role
of the APSM has changed to be one of influencing and responding to issues in
this changing market – always with the aim of maintaining a robust quality
framework and best practice across the entire supply chain, not just
manufacture.

Said APSM Chair, Sharon
Griffiths, ‘Our ultimate goal is to maintain a sustainable Specials sector that provides high
quality, safe medicines to patients – we’re looking forward to working with
more organisations who share this vision.’Specials Spend 2015-16